To Save the Planet: Get Rich
A richer world is a cleaner world:
As incomes go up, people often focus first on cleaning up their drinking water, and then later on air pollutants like sulfur dioxide. As their wealth grows, people consume more energy, but they move to more efficient and cleaner sources – from wood to coal and oil, and then to natural gas and nuclear power, progressively emitting less carbon per unit of energy. This global decarbonization trend has been proceeding at a remarkably steady rate since 1850.
If the energy system is left to its own devices, most of the carbon will be out of it by 2060 or 2070.
Interesting. It looks like we should become pro-growth environmentalists.
Really interesting article, as is usual for John Tierney.
Very interesting and actual article, I completely with it agree, thanks.